Bead-holding device



p 3, 1929. G. ST. JOHN, JR 1,726,933

BEAD HOLDING DEVICE Filed May 11, 1928 66mg: 52 -756/7 fr 7 INVENTOR 7Z2 ATTORNEY Patented Sept. 3, 1929.,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE ST. JOHN, JR., OF KEW GARDENS, NEW YORK.

-BEADHOLDIN G DEVICE.

Application filed May 11,

This invention relates to a device for conveniently holding beads or other similar articles during the act of inserting a thread through their openings and to assist in the operation of providing a knot in the thread between adjacent beads.

Beads, which are merely strung upon a thread without means for preventing them from all slipping off the string in case of accident t0 the latter, are usually a source of trouble, inconvenience and expense, because when the string does break, the beads quickly slide off and scatter in every direction. To overcome this objectionable feature, the string has been provided at the factory with a knot between each two beads, but to tie such a knot in the correct relation to two closely disposed beads is indeed a difficult task and quite beyond the skill of the ordinary person in the performance of stringing her own beads.

With the foregoing in mind, it is the purpose of the present invention to provide a tool or device which will not only hold a bead 2 during the operation of threading a string through its opening, but will assist in the performance of tying a knot closely adjacent the bead being held and the portion of the string to receive the succeeding head on the string. I accomplish this purpose by means of a small, easily operated tool of the character hereinafter described in the specification and claims and illustratively exemplified in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a substantially longitudinal sectional view taken through a portion of the tool showing the position of the hand during manipulation thereof; Figure 2 is a plan View of the tool; Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the device; and Figure 4 is a perspective view showing the manner in which the tool assists in the performance of making a knot between beads.

Referring to the drawings, 10 denotes a wire handle having a straight intermediate portion, a lateral loop 11 at one end and a flattened downwardly disposed tip 12 at the other end. Secured to the flattened tip 12 is a spoon shaped bowl 13 having the lip portion shaped up to provide a hemispherical socket 14: into which the bead 15 to be threaded is placed before the needle 16 at the end of the thread 17 is projected through the eye 18 of the bead 15. Slidably mounted between guides 19 on the underside or bottom of the 1928. Serial No. 276,848.

bowl 13 is a curved slide 20, the forward end of which is forked and provided with prongs 21' adapted to be projected beyond the lip of the bowl13 or to be Withdrawn thereunder by means of a button 22, projecting downwardly from the mid-portion of the slide 20. The slide 20 is limited in its forward movement by a stop 23 which engages the side of one of the guides 19.

Having now described the details of my invention, the manner in which the same is manipulated is as follows: A thread 17 is provided with a needle 16 which is run through the eye of a bead 15. The bead 15 is then placed in the socket 14 and held in position by the thumb as illustrated in Figure 1. The

smallest finger of the same hand is inserted through the eye or loop 11 and the three middle fingers are clasped over the straight portion of the handle 10. The side of the first index finger rests against the button 22 and by pushing outwardly on the button the slide 20 is projected so as to bring the prongs 21 just beyond the lip of the spoon 13. The thread 17 from the head 15 is inserted between the prongs 21 and then wound once or twice about the outside of the prongs. The needle 16 is thereafter brought up from underneath between the pron s 21 and through the loops of thread wound a out the prongs. The thread is drawn rather tightly and the first index finger of the hand holding the tool is brought forwardly and then backwardly bringing with it the button 22 and slide 20 and prongs 21. The thread is thus left in a knotted condition closely adjacent the sur face of the bead 15 being held in the socket 14. The operation is repeated for each bead and as a result the string of beads, if severed in any place throughout its length, will only allow one bead to fall off. The tool is so simple in construction and operation that anyone having had no previous experience is able to manipulate the tying of a knot, between beads being strung, with as much skill as now required by those making such work their profession.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a handle and a holder at the end thereof, said holder being provided with a socket in which to rest a bead, and a slide adjustable outwardly from the holder and adjacent the surface of the bead in the socket to provide means about which a knot is formed from thread outside after the forked end is withdrawn beneath the 15 and a spoon shaped bowl at the other, said bowl being provided with a raised socket at the lip in which to rest a bead, and a slide arranged on the under surface of the bowl and provided with a forked end adjustable into and out of position before the lip,;whereby the thread from the bead in the socket may be wound about the prongs of the fork and then i brought up between the prongs .to form'a knot bowl. r

3. An article of manufacture, as claimed in claim 2, in which the loop in the handle is disposed on a plane with the bowl to receive the smallest finger of the hand holding the article.

4. An article of manufacture, as claimed in claim 2, in which the slide is guided in straps on the bowl, and a button projects from the slide to be manipulated by the first finger of the hand holding the article.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

GEORGE ST. JOHN, JR. 

